Portable fire-hose-nozzle support



May 11 1926.

J. B. BLAW PORTABLE FIRE HOSE PiQZ ZLE SUPPORT Filed Dec. 12, 1 923 In venfo/n Jacob B. B/aw.

Patented May 11, 1926.

JACOB B. BLAjW, OF. ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY. I

PORTABLE FIRE-HOSE-NOZZLE SUPPORT,

ApplicationfiledDecember 12,1923. Serial No. 680,094.

The object of my invention is to pro-' vide a fire hose nozzle support of a portable character having a suitable attaching means for adjustably securing it upon a ladder anddesirably to the rungs thereof, that when the ladder is raised upon. its truck, or otherwise in front of a burning building, the nozzle of the hose may be clamped to the support with provision for-adjustment. whereby the Water stream leaving the nozzle may be projected in any direction de sired, the equipment embodying the essentials of an adjustable water stand pipe with provision for the attendance of the hoseman whov directs the nozzle.

My object is. further to so ,constructthe nozzle support that it is adjustable to any position along the length of the ladder to provide a water stream from any su table elevation to meet the requirements of the fire; and in cases where the ladder is supported on the truck ina horizontal position, to provide a plurality of firehose nozzle supports thereon sothat a number of water streams may be thrown atone time for supplying a largequantity of water for direct extinguishmentoi the flames and burning masses, or for providinga water screen or curtain between a hot fire and the firemen at work before it.

In the preferred construction of my improved fire hose nozzle support, I provide a light frame having, at a distance apart, quick operating clamps.- for positively gripping the same. rung of the ladder at widely separated places and fitted at the otliercor free end with a head in which one or more hose nozzle clamps are adjustably secured to enable one or more hose nozzles to be supported and adjusted, said head being further provided with a hinged strut frame preferably adjustable as to its length and having. detachable positive clamping means for attachment to another rung of the ladder, whereby the, device, as, a whole, may project to one side of the plane of the lad der and whereby further, the nozzles are adjustably supported and, positionedso that they maybe readily manipulated independently when desired by hoseman, while he,

on his part,has. a foothold on the ladder I its lf.

My invention iurthen comprehends other specific details of construction and these, together with the features more fully stated above, will be better understood by refer ence to the drawings, in which;

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portable ladder with my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2' is asec'tional side view of a portion of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same with the nozzle clamps reiliflved' and the ladder in section Fig. i is an enlarged sect onalview of one 0t the clamps shown, in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 isfa perspective view of anad ustable clamp for the strut frame of my. improved support; Fig. 6 is a perspective, view of the head portion of my improved nozzle support with thenozzle clamps removed; and Fig. '7 is. a side elevation of a ladder with a plurality of the nozzle clamp supports of; my invention appiled thereto. I

2 1s the chassis or maln frame of a fire ladder truck, 5 is a turn-table thereon which may be rotated by worm and worm wheelgearing 6 or otherwise, and 3 isa fire ladder hinged at the bottom to a suitable frame 4 carried by the turn-table 5. may be provided with, a, curved rack 7 which engages hand or other power gearing 8"by which the laddermay be elevated as shown or lowered upon the truck for transportation. This truckand ladder may be of the usual construction and may be exten ible (not shown) if so desired: To such ladder, I ap'plymy portable fire hose nozzlesupport at whatever elevation'may be required and in Fig, l I have shown it attached to the uppermost rungs of the ladder. As my improveddevice is portable, it inay be clamped in position upon any rungs desired to suit the height at which the firemen must work. Then the hose and lire nozzle are attached, as shown,

the equipment becomes in eiiect a water column with provision for the hosemanto attend to the manipulation of the nozzle 11. It will be understood that when the nozzle is directinga water stream into the building at the right place, the turn-table 5 may be'turned slowly back and forth or otherwise to direct the stream when a hoseman'is not in attendance; but when the hoseinan is up the ladder, he 'will have full control of the nozzle without requiring the turn-table to be manipulated, though even then some adjustment of the ladder may be advisable and may be resorted to.

My improved fire nozzle support com- The ladder v arms, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, said part having a semi-cylindrical transverse groove which receives the rung 9 of the ladder.

To the part 2'? is hinged, at 29, a cap or clamp 28, also grooved to lit the underside of the rung. The free end of this clamp part 28 is slotted and receives a bolt 30 ing 12 (Fig. 3) so that the yoke stands which is hinged to the part 27 and is provided with a wing nut which fits over the rung.

1 is hinged, at 35, the strut frame 31.

the strut to the rung.

slotted end of the clamp 28 and by which it is firmly clamped to the rung (Fig. 1). For quick release from the rung, it is only necessary to loosen the wing nut device 30 and swing it outward, whereupon the part 28 is released and drops by gravity. stiffen the frame 25 I may employ a cross brace bar 31, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 1.

The head casting 12 is provided with a downwardly extending lug 36 to which The strut frame 31 comprises the two rod parts 32 and 33 which are so screw-threaded respectively with right and left handed threads and connected by the turn-buckle 34, into the ends of which they are screwed,

as more particularly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. By rotating the turn-buckle, the length of the strut frame may be increased or decreased. The free end of the part 33 of the strut frame is provided with a positive clamp 36, preferably of the character shown in Figs. 2 and 5 for attachment to one of the rungs 9 of the ladder. This clamp comprises a body 37 secured to the rod 33 and having a transverse groove or recess to receive the A clamping cap 38 is hinged to the body at 39 and is also recessed to fit the ladder rung. This cap will normally tend to open by gravity when released to permit quick application or release of the device in respect to the ladder. The locking means is shown at 10 and comprises a hinged bolt with a wing nut which may be swung over the slotted cap 38 and tightened to clamp The general principle of construction of the clamping means for attaching the adjustable and portable receiving and holdin the nozzle 11. The nozzle is clamped in the part 14 by a hinged strap 16 which is hinged to the part 14 at 17 and tightened into clamping position by the bolt and nut 18. In this manner, the hose nozzle 11 may be detachably clamped to the supporting part 14: of the nozzle clamp and the hose 11 may extend rearwardly between the rungs 9, and thence downward along the ladder. The nozzle supporting part 14 is hinged on a transverse axis at '15 to the outer ends of the ill-shaped yoke 13, which is provided with a vertical shaft 23 journaled in a bearing 12*. vertical shaft 23 extends through this bearsubstantially vertical and at the lower end of the shaft 23 there is provided a clamping nut 24, which, aside'from preventing the A clamping screw 22 is also. shown extends ing through the side of the head 12 for clamping the vertical shaft 23 of the yoke 13, but it is manifest that if the nut 24: is to be employed for this purpose, the clamping screw 22 may be omitted. 19 is an are shaped guide bar riveted to the socket portion 1 1 of the nozzle clamp and is guided through a slot in the body of the yoke and may be clamped in any position of adjustment by a clamping screw 20. By this means, the vertical angle of the nozzle may be maintained. lVhile T have shown and described a form of nozzle clamp which I have found excellently adapted for the purpose of my invention, I do not restrict myself to the details of construction thereof as the clamp may be made in any other suitable 'manner, if so desired.

While I have shown and described the nozzle clamp which 1s arranged above the head 12 and adjustable about a vertical axis, I may provide further a second nozzle clamp and the same may be ad ust-ably secured to the outer end of the head 12 in a socket Tn Fig. 2, the" The general construe ability of the yoke and the clamping screw 20. It is also to be understood that this second nozzle clamp may be varied in its construction so long as it supports the nozzle with capacity for adjustment. By employtime, or even to concentrate'two streams upon the same place of the conflagration. It is manlfest that, while provision is made for two nozzle clamps, the head may be further extended to'support more than two such nozzle clamps and the hose nozzles, but ordinarily, two would be sufficient and less liable to complication in utilizing the apparatus in actual practice.

While theuse of the invention is more particularly intended as illustrated in Fig. 1, it' is manifest that the nozzle supporting means may be adjusted at any vertical height along the ladder to convenientlyopcrate; in connection with any special condition of the fire, and it is also evident that a plurality of these nozzle supporting devices may be arranged upon the. same ladder,and

corresponding to the levels required for different floors of a building which may be in flames. It is also evident that these same nozzle supporting devices may be arranged along the ladder when it is down or in a horizontal position, so that a plurality, of nozzles may be put into operation for throwing streams which would act not only for the purpose of extinguishing the fire, but also in providing a water screen between the fire and places in the street where active work is to be carried on, and in that manner protect the firemen against excessive radiant heat where the fire is intense. Such a use of the improvements are indicated in Fig. 7, which shows a portion of the ladder and with four of the nozzle supporting devices in position. In this case it would be more convenient to use the nozzle clamps which are fitted to and adjustable upon the outer ends of the heads 12 of the supporting devices 10.

While ordinarily the frame 25 of the device would assume a substantially horizontal position, yet, in some cases, it would be desirable that it should be supported in an oblique position, whether upwardly or downwardly according to the necessities of the fire, and this may be accomplished by the adjustment of the turn-buckle 34 of the strut frame 31*; or where an extreme downward incline is required, then, in addition to the adjustment of the turn-buckle, the clamp 36 at the lower end of the strut may be adjusted to the next rung below.

. lVhile my improvements are especially designed for use in connection with a ladder, it is to be understood that the general construction of the parts may be utilized where the device is employed in attachment with other means than the ladder, or, if desired,

may be adapted for use on the ground where the parts may be conveniently braced and,

. therefore while I prefer the clamp such as will form-- an attachment to. the rungs; of a ladder-I do not limitmyself to any particular attaching means, I

It will now be apparent that-I have de vised a. novel and useful construction which embodiesthefeatures of advantage,enumerated asfdesirable and while I have in the presentinstan-ce shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to, give satisfactory and reliable results it is to be understood thatI do not rest'ict myself to. the details, as the same are susceptible of, modification in various particulars 1 without departing from the spirit or scope of. theinvention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by, Letters Patent is:

l. A portable-fire nozzle support,,c0mpris- .ing two frames hinged together, one of said frames-having two widely spaced armseach provided with po s1t1ve, clamp ng means at its-end. and the other frame. constituting a strut and having a positive clamping means at its free end, the jointed ends of said frames provided with a head, a nozzle clamp yoke j ournaled in the head so as to be movable about an axis arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame portion having the widely spaced arms, means for locking the yoke in.1 its adjusted positions upon the head, a nozzle clamp carried by the yoke and adjustable about a transverse axis, and means for locking the nozzle clamp in its adjusted positions on the yoke.

2. A portable support for a fire nozzle, which consists of a jointed frame structure formed of two frames of different radial lengths carrying at the jointed end a head and having the free end of each of the frames and whereby the head may be positioned to one side and at a distance from the plane.

of the ladder, said clamping devices each formed of a transversely grooved part rigidly secured to the end of one of the respective frames and associated with a hinged clamping part and latching means for clamping the frames when spread to the rungs of the ladder, and a fire nozzle clamp adjustably secured to the head whereby a stream of water may be definitely directed on the fire and the direction maintained without continued manual control.

3. In fire apparatus, means for supporting a fire hose nozzle which consists of a supporting structure formed of two frames of different lengths hinged together at one of their ends and havin at their other and free ends positive clampmg means adapted for whereby said structure is adaptedto project. greatly to one side of the plane of the ladder, a nozzle clamp adjustably pivoted upon the partof the supporting structure most distant from the positive clamping means for the rungs of the ladder, and means for clamping the nozzle clampv fixedly in its positions of adjustment whereby the nozzle in action may be supported and fixedly adjusted at a position beyond the plane of the ladder and capable of maintaining such relation for'all positions of the ladder.

4. A portable support for a fire nozzle, whichconsists of two frames hinged together at one end and respectively of different radial lengths, said frames each respectively provided at their free ends with clamping means comprising a part having a transverse groove and an adjustable clamping portion hinged thereto the groove of the clamping device of the shorter frame opening in a direction at right-angles to its frame and toward the other or longer frame and the groove of the clamping device of the longer frame opening in the radial direction of said frame and outwardly from it, and an adjustable fire nozzle clamp carried at the jointed ends of the two frames.

5. In a portable fire nozzle support, a head and nozzle clamping means pivoted thereon, combined with means on the head for looking the nozzle clamping means to the head in adjusted positions thereon, a frame secured directly to the head and having widely spaced arms whose free ends are respectively provided with positive adjustable clamps for attachment to one rung of a ladder, and a separate extensible strut frame having one end hinged relatively to the head and its other end also provided with a positive clamp for attachment to another rung of a ladder.

In testimony of which invention, I unto set my hand.

here- JACOB B. BLAVV. 

